封建主义(feudalism)

一种17世纪时已逐渐没落的制度，它代表了欧洲的经济、法律、政治和社会关系，起源於中世纪。在这种制度中，封臣以领地的形式从领主手中获得土地。封臣要为领主尽一定的义务，并且必须向领主效忠。在更广泛的意义上，封建主义一词指「封建社会」，这是特别盛行於闭锁的农业经济中的一种文明形式。封建主义的另外一个方面是采邑制或庄园制，在这种制度中，地主对农奴享有广泛的警察、司法、财政和其他权力。11世纪封建主义把欧洲原本失序的政治恢复原有的秩序，同时也成为日後形成强大君主势力的基础。封建主义也传到一些非西方社会地区，在那里可以看到类似中世纪欧洲的组织。尽管封建主义到14世纪末已经不再是一种政治的和社会的力量，但它仍然在欧洲社会中留下了自己的烙印。它对现代形式的立宪政府的形成产生了极大影响。

English version：

feudalism

Term that emerged in the 17th century that has been used to describe economic, legal, political, social, and economic relationships in the European Middle Ages. Derived from the Latin word [latin]feudum (fief) but unknown to people of the Middle Ages, the term “feudalism” has been used most broadly to refer to medieval society as a whole, and in this way may be understood as a socio-economic system that is often called manorialism. It has been used most narrowly to describe relations between lords and vassals that involve the exchange of land for military service. Feudalism in this sense is thought to have emerged in a time of political disorder in the 11th century as a means to restore order, and it was later a key element in the establishment of strong monarchies. “Feudalism” also has been applied, often inappropriately, to non-Western societies where institutions similar to those of medieval Europe are thought to have existed. The many ways “feudalism” has been used have drained it of specific meaning, however, and caused some scholars to reject it as a useful concept for understanding medieval society.